Who complies with the australian dietary guidelines?

Seven hundred and thirty people who responded to a random postalsurvey concerned with the Australian dietary guidelines were categorized into three groups according to their practice of eleven dietary activities. These were non-compliers; limited compliers; and extensive compliers. Comparison of the groups' demographic characteristics and health and dietary perceptions showed that extensive compliers tended to be female or tertiary-educated or in high social status occupations. Compared to the other groups extensive compliers were more concerned about their weight; experienced more stress and more commonly practised relaxation exercises (men only); used dietary supplements regularly; perceived causes of death and disease more accurately; were more content with their nutritional status and current dietary intake; and made greater use of sources of nutrition information. These results indicate that extensive compliers were more oriented toward nutritional, dietary and health matters than other respondents. © 1986 Pergamon Press Ltd.